Come On 2007!
By Kim Pitman
Looking Ahead of Your Circumstances
Time passes so much faster these days. It seems like each year speeds by a little quicker than the year before. January comes and then before you can really appreciate the cold weather it’s summer already. Mom used to tell us not to wish our lives away. Don’t spend your days wishing that you were older or richer, or wiser, or married. You know what I mean. Although the temptation is great to do that I try not to “wish my life away.” But I wish 2006 were over!
2006 has been a calamitous year for me. January started out calmly and quietly and then on January 15 I slipped and fell on some black ice while walking my dog, Greta. I’ve never broken a bone before. I knew immediately that it was broken. It hurt so badly but all I could think of was not letting go of Greta’s leash. I knew I wouldn’t be up to catching her if she got away. I managed to get Greta and myself back into my house. Drew, my youngest son, was at his dad’s in High Ridge so I called Kent, my eldest.
Kent drove me to the ER at St. John’s. The doctor took one look at the x-ray and said, “surgery.” I hadn’t cried until he said that. He put a temporary cast on it and the following Wednesday I was in surgery having the fracture reduced. It took a metal plate and several screws to put my wrist back together. Oh, did I mention it was my right hand (and of course I’m right handed). Well, let me tell you, you can learn to do anything and I mean anything with your left hand if you need to.
Two weeks later I was in a hard cast and then when that was removed I started therapy. Three months of physical therapy helped me to get back most of the movement in my wrist. I’m using a keyboard again and I can sew. Thank the good Lord for that. But this is just the first part of my story.
In May, I went for my regular physical check-up and mammogram. The doctor did all the regular doctor things and they did blood work. The mammogram technician was free (great?) and so I was able to get right in. Many years ago a friend gave me this scripture to describe what it’s like to have a mammogram. I’m sure that if you are a woman you can really relate. ‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9. Anyway every time I get a mammogram I remember that verse. Well, other times too but especially when I get a mammogram.
It usually takes a week or so to get the results from a mammogram but my doctor called me within a couple of days. She told me that the radiologist had seen something suspicious on my mammogram and she wanted me to get a diagnostic mammogram and a breast ultrasound. I was seen almost immediately and while I was there the radiologist came to me and said, “You need a biopsy right away.” Well, I hadn’t gotten too worried up until then. I had the biopsy the next week. Two days later my doctor called me into her office. She told me that the results of the biopsy showed cancer. I was totally shocked. And frightened.
I spent the day just thinking about what I was going to do. I made an appointment to see a surgeon. I called my family. I told my children. I saw a movie. Well, that was more to escape from thinking about the cancer. But on the way home from the movie, I finally talked to God about it. I said, “God, You’ve gotten me through so much in my life and I know that You’ll get me through this too. No matter what the outcome is, it will be okay because You are in control.” And He has been.
He was there to make sure that my first mammogram was read correctly, and the second as well. He was there to make sure that the biopsy showed the doctors what they needed to know to be able to help me. He put people in my path: doctors, nurses, friends, who could help me sort out the choices that I needed to make and direct me to the correct ones. He made sure that the cancer was found early while it was still small and non-invasive. He enabled my surgeon to remove the cancer quickly and made my surgery recovery easy and speedy.
Three weeks later I saw my radiation oncologist and we went through my “planning session.” One week later I was taking my first radiation treatment. The first of 34 treatments. The treatments are not hard or strenuous or painful. The nurses and technicians are nice, gentle, courteous, and fun to be around. I thank God for that too.
I believe God has been directing my life for a long time. The old cliché hindsight is 20/20 is right. As I look back I see evidence after evidence that He has been there. He has been there throughout all the storms of my life. I’m not completely finished with this storm yet. They tell me not for 5 years and that I’ll have to be vigilant about getting my regular checkups and mammograms, but I know He’ll be there with me no matter what happens. God will make it right for His glory.
Are you depending on God?
Are you looking for Him?
Are you listening for His still small voice?
You know God uses the storms of our lives to purify us and to refine us and to boil away the impurities of sin. He uses the tempests of our lives to hone our skills for giving Him glory and for sharing His goodness in our lives. Through our trials He teaches us to walk with our heads up and chests out not slumped over and drooping trusting Him for every second of every day. To get through, not over or around, but through with a smile on our faces so that people will ask how I am doing and I can say, “With God’s ever present help I am doing great!” I pray that you will ride out the next whirlwind that you find yourself in secure in the knowledge that He’s right next to you holding the reins of all the storms of your life.
A few verses for you to meditate on when you are going through a tumultuous time in your life.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. — Psalm 46:1
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. — Romans 8:28
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. — Psalm 55:22
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, — Nahum 1:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. — I Peter 5:7
Copyright © September 7, 2006 – Kim Pitman. All rights reserved.
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